Get the latest news here! The Southeast Alaska Seiners Association was formed in 1968 by a group of concerned Ketchikan commercial salmon purse seiners.
As time wore on in the early 1980's, SEAS expanded to include all of Southeast Alaska. Today the board of directors is from multiple towns throughout Southeast Alaska. Board members hail from Sitka, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Bellingham, Seattle and Burlington-Anacortes.

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Friday, April 24, 2009

April 24, 2009 Contact Mark Vinsel, Executive DirectorFor Immediate Release (907) 586-2820United Fishermen of Alaska Honors Senator Stevens inInaugural Alaska Seafood Hall of FameSenator Ted Stevens honored with Lifetime Achievement award, among twenty industry leadersnamed to Hall of Fame.In celebration of 50 years of Alaska Statehood and sustainable fisheries management, the UnitedFishermen of Alaska (UFA) honored former Senator Ted Stevens for his record ofaccomplishments dating from Alaska Statehood to the present, and named nineteen otherindividuals to its inaugural Alaska Seafood Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes individuals fortheir lifetime accomplishments in promoting and protecting Alaska’s seafood industry and fisheryresources.Senator Stevens was presented a UFA Honorary Lifetime Membership and Lifetime Achievementaward for his work for sustainable fisheries spanning Alaska’s first 50 years of Statehood,including establishing the 200 mile limit; the Magnuson-Stevens Act, establishment of regionalfishery management councils, ban on high seas driftnets, and his continuing work to bring a stop toillegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries worldwide.“Alaska’s fisheries were a focal point in the impetus behind the statehood movement, and throughstatehood, Alaska was able to influence national fisheries and ocean policy. Alaska’s foundingfathers and fishing leaders took many very difficult steps to bring the necessary protections torebuild and sustain fishing communities. Without the work of these twenty individuals, andespecially Senator Stevens, we can only guess what would now remain of our fisheries stocks andfishing communities,” said UFA President Joe Childers.In accepting the award, Senator Stevens called upon commercial fishermen to join together tocontinue his work to stop IUU fishing.UFA followed a two step process of open nominations followed by voting by the full board of 41fishing leaders that comprise the UFA . Over fifty people were nominated and the top twenty aftervoting were named as inaugural inductees. The awards were presented at an industry banquet atthe Comfish trade show this week in Kodiak, Alaska.“The nomination and voting process was a very educational look back into the fifty years sinceAlaska statehood, reminding all of us that we owe our fisheries to the vision and hard work that somany individuals have made, and inspiring all fishermen and those who work in fisheries tocontinue this arduous and often frustrating work. The nomination list includes statesmen,innovative fishermen, activists, processors, biologists, regulators, and many who spanned acrossmore than one of these categories.“There are many men and women in the fishing community whose work might already wellqualify them for inclusion, but that would agree that their work is not yet done. The list of eligibleindividuals will continue to grow and UFA will elect new members yearly,” said executive directorMark Vinsel.UFA honored the following Alaska Seafood Hall of Fame Charter Members:Bob Alverson, U.S. Senator Bob Bartlett, Bob Blake, The Brindle Family, Chuck Bundrant, AlBurch, Phil Daniel, Oscar Dyson, Senator Dick Eliason, Governor Ernest Gruening, Governor JayHammond, Gordon Jensen, Knute Johnson, Armin F. Koernig, Jerry McCune, Alaska StateRepresentative Drew Scalzi, Alaska State Senator Clem Tillion, Tommy Thompson, and BobThorstenson Sr.“These individuals each made lasting contributions that helped Alaska fishermen and womencontinue our sustainable fisheries to the present and into the future. We look forward torecognizing the many others that are helping ensure our sustainable fisheries through to futuregenerations,” said Vinsel.UFA